Rs 40,000 crore fraud in Maya memorials,probe soon: Akhilesh

Alleging irregularities to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore in the construction of memorials and parks under the previous government headed by Mayawati,Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said his government would conduct an inquiry into the matter.

Alleging irregularities to the tune of Rs 40,000 crore in the construction of memorials and parks under the previous government headed by Mayawati,Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday said his government would conduct an inquiry into the matter.

The anomalies are of more than Rs 40,000 crore and we will soon decide the form of inquiry. Names of several persons have figured in reports of the Lokayukta, said the chief minister,responding to a query over a possible CBI probe.

Akhilesh,who was interacting with reporters after the draw of lots for selection of Haj pilgrims,said: I can assure you that the whole scam is of around Rs 40,000 crore; when you work out the cost of the land.

Boundary walls were demolished several times. Money was wasted on every head. Even the palm trees planted were overpriced. Several of them are lying at Jiyamau while others have been buried. Only a few elephant statues have been recovered and many more will emerge during investigation. Police have done a good job in investigating the matter, said Akhilesh.

The Lucknow police are investigating complaints from some contractors that they were not paid for various work they did in the memorials. On Monday,the police searched the offices of the Rajkiya Nirman Nigam (RNN),which constructed the memorials,and collected documents. Yesterday,it has asked for the seizure of passports of five officials.